Area code
717
717 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Pennsylvania, which has 15 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 717
Paste a full number and the tool checks it against the numbering plan. It returns the standard formats, the line type the plan assigns and the area code region.
Digits with or without punctuation work. Numbers outside the US are read with the +country code.
Area code 717 at a glance
NANPA lists 784 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 717, held by 41 holders across 107 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1947-01-01 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 223 (2017-09-26) |
| Prefixes in use | 784 |
| Pooled prefixes | 559 (71%) |
| Rate centers | 107 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 41 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-31 to 2024-04-25 (262 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 92 |
Rate centers in area code 717
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| HARISBGZN1 | 155 | 20% |
| LANCASTER | 101 | 13% |
| YORK | 75 | 10% |
| LEBANON | 29 | 4% |
| CHAMBERSBG | 28 | 4% |
| CARLISLE | 24 | 3% |
| MECHANCSBG | 18 | 2% |
| HANOVER | 15 | 2% |
| 99 other rate centers | 339 | 43% |
Who holds the prefixes in 717
Verizon Pennsylvania holds the most prefixes, 121 (15%). 71% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Pennsylvania | 121 | 15% |
| Brightspeed Of Pennsylvania | 80 | 10% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 77 | 10% |
| Verizon Wireless | 72 | 9% |
| Level 3 Communications | 65 | 8% |
| Verizon North | 55 | 7% |
| 35 other carriers | 314 | 40% |
A prefix holder is the company a code was assigned to, not necessarily a number's current carrier, because numbers can be ported to another company. Find which carrier a number is on, or browse the prefix holders.
History of area code 717
- 1947-01-01 Area code 717 went into service.
- 1998-12-05 Area code 570 went into service and names 717 as its parent.
- 2017-09-26 Area code 223 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 717.
Area codes nearest to 717
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
Overlay codes in the same area
ZIP codes in area code 717
92 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | 11 |
| York, PA | 8 |
| Hanover, PA | 5 |
A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems. A ZIP code can sit in more than one area code, and an area code spans many ZIP codes.
Complaints on file for 717 numbers
3,928 FCC complaints are on file for 3,227 numbers in 717, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 212 |
| 2024 | 150 |
| 2025 | 159 |
Other area codes in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one state with 15 area codes in the NANPA table. 717 is one of them.
Next to 717 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 717 when all are sorted by number. They are neighbours on the list, not necessarily on the map.
What the area code does and does not tell you
A number that starts with 717 was first assigned in Pennsylvania. That is a fact about where the number began, and it is a useful hint when you check a form entry, for example a billing address in Pennsylvania next to a 717 phone number.
It does not show where the person is today. A number stays with its owner after a move or a change of provider (number portability), and mobile numbers travel with the handset. The area code also cannot tell you whether the line is active, who the carrier is, or whether the number is mobile or fixed: the plan shares those ranges. Read more about the area code, the numbering plan and line type.
Check numbers in bulk with the API
| Product | Credits | Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Numbering-Plan Validation | 1 credit per valid number | API docs |
| Phone Intelligence (carrier and line status) | 1 credit per check (invalid numbers outside the US and Canada are free) | Product page |
Questions about area code 717
Where is area code 717?
NANPA assigns area code 717 to Pennsylvania, United States.
In which state does area code 717 sit?
Pennsylvania. 717 is one of 15 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 717 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 717 are Lancaster, PA, York, PA and Hanover, PA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 717?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 717, Verizon Pennsylvania holds the most prefixes, 121 prefixes or 15%.
Which time zone does 717 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 717 as Eastern (E).
What year did 717 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 717 has been in use since 1947.
Does area code 717 have an overlay?
Yes. 223 (in service 2017-09-26) shares the same area with 717, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 717?
The area codes closest to 717, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 301 (about 60 miles), 610 (about 64 miles), 484 (about 65 miles), 835 (about 66 miles) and 443 (about 71 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 717 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 784 prefixes in service in 717, spread over 107 rate centers and 41 holders.
Are there complaints about 717 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 3,928 complaints for 3,227 numbers in 717. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.
Area code assignments: North American Numbering Plan Administrator NPA report, file dated 10/17/2026, retrieved 2026-10-17. Source file. New codes are assigned several times a year. Prefixes, rate centers, holders, time zone, in-service date and overlays: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17 and NPA report dated 2026-10-18. Complaints: FCC consumer complaints open data, fetched 2026-10-17. ZIP code places: Postal code places and coordinates: GeoNames (geonames.org), licensed CC BY 4.0.